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William (Bill) Churlik, with a Philosophy and Religion degree from Newberry College, has been a jeweler for over thirty years and is an accomplished lapidary, metal smith, and woodworker. He has taught beginning and advanced Silversmithing in various venues including Wild Acres at Little Switzerland, NC and Haywood Community College’s Continuing Education Program in Clyde, NC. He currently teaches Silversmithing and metal work at his studio (Earthspeak Arts) in the Woolworth Walk Gallery in Downtown Asheville, NC.

Bill learned to cut gemstones from his grandfather, who was a “rock hound”. Bill soon found that when you cut and polish enough little cabochons, you have to do something with them. He started looking at books then joined the East Ohio Lapidary Club. His first attempts at silver jewelry were justly primitive but provided a starting point for a passion that has followed him all of his life. Now he lets that passion lead the way.

Bill has spent many years experimenting with new and not so new techniques to broaden his skills. Books, workshops, and most of all, working with fellow metalsmiths have helped him gain a wide range of abilities. Several years spent as a partner in a jewelry gallery and as a bench jeweler have taught him the terrors and joys of the jewelry trade; stone setting, casting, design, repair, and sales. He also ran his own custom millwork company for more than twelve years while maintaining an active jewelry habit. In his spare time, he is a volunteer steam engineer and machinist at the Denton Farm Park in Denton, NC. Bill comes to his art as an “old world” craftsman, bringing all his experience with people, business, machine work, restoration woodwork, and creative design, to create truly interesting and engaging works of art.

Currently, students from around the Southeast travel to Bill’s Studio in Asheville for classes in various aspects of metal-smithing. Look for our ad in the April issue of the Lapidary Journal.

I truly enjoy the creative process. It is the language of the spirit. Much of my work is inspired by my sense of connection to “nature”… things that I see that please me, remind me of the connectedness of all things, or sometimes simply amuse me. I find a sense of spirituality working itself out through the creative process as I bring ideas into being. All of creation is one great dance, the dance of life. I have come to see that part of the artist’s role as helping that dance make sense.”
Bill Churlik 2005

© Earth Speak Arts ---Mailing address
1020 Coxes Creek Rd, Burnsville, NC 28714 E-mail wechurlik@earthlink.net All Rights Reserved

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